Stonebriar Ordains Three Men to Ministry

Malcolm Gill, Tom Keiser, and Rhome Dyck (left to right) were ordained to the ministry in April.

Three men were ordained into the ministry with a ritual laying on of hands during worship services at SCC on April 24. Rhome Dyck, Malcolm Gill, and Tom Keiser successfully completed the requirements established by Stonebriar’s Board of Elders, including written and oral examinations, before being recommended for ordination.

Members of the ordination council, who administered the examinations, are David Chavanne, Les Fleetwood, John Hannah, Charlton Hiott, Chuck Swindoll, and Mark Young.

Rhome Dyck earned his diploma in biblical studies from Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, B.C., Canada; a bachelor of arts degree in history from Simon Frasier University in Burnaby, B.C., Canada; and a master of theology degree in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He is currently serving as Stonebriar’s Resident Pastor of Adult Fellowships, providing leadership and support to the teachers of adult fellowships. Rhome is also an instructor in Stonebriar’s Theology Program and leads the LifeBuilders adult fellowship.

Rhome remembers sensing a call to ministry during an evening church service when he was ten years old. “One of the guest speakers was a missionary from Zaire,” says Rhome. “I remember horsing around in the balcony with my friends when this man captured my attention. When he asked the crowd if we would be willing to give our lives for Christ, I felt he was speaking directly to me. From that moment, I knew that I wanted to live out my life serving the church.”

Rhome will complete his residency at the end of May and become a member of the Stonebriar staff as Pastor of Adult Fellowships.

Malcolm Gill earned his bachelor’s degree in biblical studies at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois; a master of theology degree in academic ministries from Dallas Theological Seminary; and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in New Testament studies at DTS. Malcolm also teaches Stonebriar’s Life on Purpose adult fellowship. Malcolm and his wife, Tamara, have a one-year-old daughter, Annabel, and are expecting a new addition to the family in July.

Malcolm says his intention in attending Bible college was not so much to “go into ministry” as it was to get to know God. “I just thought ministry was what Christians did,” he says. “I just wanted to learn more about God’s Word and what He has to say to us.”

During his time at Moody, though, Malcolm became involved in prison ministry.

“The evangelistic work we were doing in the prisons was exciting, and I thought, ‘This is something I could do for a living!’” Malcolm and Tamara are now interested in church planting or teaching at a Bible college or seminary.

Tom Keiser earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University and is currently completing his doctoral work in Old Testament studies at DTS. Tom and his wife, Kris, are the parents of a son, Nathan, 27, and two daughters, Jessica, 26, and Rebekah, 24.

Tom says he was fortunate to have been raised in a solid Christian home. “I responded to God the first time He spoke to me, and I accepted Christ as my Savior at age four or five,” he says. After working 30 years in healthcare management, Tom and Kris decided to take some time to focus more intently on seeking the Lord’s direction for their future. They moved from Baltimore to Dallas so Tom could pursue his doctorate, with the idea of eventually teaching Christian higher education.

“All my life I have felt called to serve in ministry,” Tom said. “But when I was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago, I truly began to feel like my life was over.” It was through these struggles that God gave Tom what he calls “a real-life Galatians 2:20 experience.” The Lord used the familiar passage about being “crucified with Christ” to strengthen Tom’s heart. “If I am to live,” Tom says, “it will have to be the Lord living through me.” Tom’s passion for studying Scripture and his heart to minister to others give evidence of the Lord living through him.

Thanks be to God for each of these faithful men and the gifts they bring to Stonebriar and the larger body of Christ.